Lithuanian state's extra spending on papal visit cut to EUR 1.45 mln

The maximum amount of the state's additional spending on organizing Pope Francis' visit to Lithuania later this month goes down from 1.75 million euros to 1.45 million euros, Government Vice-Chancellor Alminas Mačiulis said on Tuesday.

A group headed by Mačiulis completed its work on Monday, approving preliminary estimates of additional recipients of budget appropriations.

"The current proposal is to put 1.45 million euros into the government resolution. This is down by around 300,000 euros," the vice-chancellor told BNS.

He expects the Finance Ministry to submit the draft resolution to the Cabinet during Tuesday's meeting.

Most of the money will likely go to the Roman Catholic Church of Lithuania via the Foreign Ministry. Additional funding will also be provided to the VIP Protection Department, local authorities in Vilnius and Kaunas, and the Health Ministry.